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On September 15, 2024, a Secret Service agent fired upon a suspect, later identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who was spotted allegedly hiding with a rifle in shrubbery at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh fled the scene and was later captured in Martin County.[1] The incident occurred while Donald Trump, a former president of the United States and the nominee of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election, was golfing at the club. Officials believe that Routh intended to shoot Trump.[2] No injuries were reported.[3] The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident as an attempted assassination.[4] The incident occurred two months after a previous assassination attempt against Trump that took place while he spoke at a presidential campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.
| Trump International Golf Club shooting | |
|---|---|
 The suspect's car shown after being pulled over by police soon after he fled | |
 Location of the shooting incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida | |
| Location | Trump International Golf Club (West Palm Beach, Florida, US) |
| Coordinates | 26°40′00″N 80°5′21″W / 26.66667°N 80.08917°W |
| Date | September 15, 2024 1:31 p.m. (UTC−04:00) |
| Target | Believed to be Donald Trump |
Attack type | Suspected assassination attempt |
| Weapon | SKS-style rifle |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Motive | Under investigation |
| Accused | Ryan Wesley Routh |
| Charges | Criminal possession of a firearm (2 counts) |
Background
The Trump International Golf Club has been noted as a potential target for attempts on Donald Trump's life.[5] The incident occurred 64 days after a previous assassination attempt on Trump at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, in which Trump was shot and wounded in his upper right ear by a sniper.[6] After the failed assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania, his security arrangement was upgraded to a level similar to that of a vice-president's, higher than what is typically granted to former presidents, but not at the level of the incumbent president. Law enforcement officials said that the golf course's perimeter was not fully secured as Trump was not an incumbent president.[7] The Secret Service did not search the perimeter of the golf course, as Trump's visit there was not a scheduled event.[8]
Incident
On September 15, 2024, Donald Trump golfed at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida[9] with friend and donor Steve Witkoff.[10] Trump was walking along the fifth hole when Secret Service agents conducted a sweep of the sixth hole ahead of him for any threats. Agents conducting the sweep saw a man aiming a rifle toward the golf course while hiding in shrubs approximately 400 yards (370 m) away from Trump.[11] The position in which the man had been is well-known as a spot frequently used by paparazzi to photograph Trump at his golf course.[12] At 1:31 p.m. EDT,[13] approximately 12 hours after the gunman had arrived,[14] an agent fired at the man, who dropped his weapon and fled in a vehicle.[3] After the shot was fired, Trump was escorted away by his Secret Service protective detail.[15] The man did not have a clear line of sight on Trump and did not fire his gun.[16][11] A witness took a photo of the suspect's vehicle, assisting authorities in tracking it down.[17] The golf course was locked down shortly after the incident,[2] and no injuries were reported.[18][19]
After the gunman fled the scene, a "be on the lookout" (BOLO) was issued to nearby law enforcement with details about the suspect's car, a black Nissan SUV. After pulling over the vehicle, Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies forced the driver out of the car and arrested him at gunpoint.[20] According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the driver was detained as a person of interest while he was driving northbound on Interstate 95 from Palm Beach County.[21] The sheriff's units "waited [for] a while" to stop the vehicle to avoid engaging in a high-speed chase. An SKS-style rifle[15] with a removed serial number, a scope, two backpacks containing ceramic tiles that could deflect a bullet, a plastic bag containing food, and a GoPro camera, were recovered at the scene.[11][22][15] The driver was unarmed at the time of his arrest.[23]
Suspect
Shortly after the incident, authorities identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old Hawaii resident who lived for most of his life in Greensboro, North Carolina.[24] According to his LinkedIn profile, Routh graduated from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1998 and he owns a shed-building company in Hawaii with his son.[25][26]
Routh had a history of political activity online and offline, with his political engagement dating back to at least 1996, when he advocated against graffiti in Greensboro.[27] Voting records showed that Routh did not vote in the 2016 elections, but in a 2020 Twitter post, Routh claimed to have voted for Trump in 2016 and subsequently regretted it.[28][24][25][29] In a self-published e-book in 2023, he wrote about his supposed previous support for Trump by stating, "I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake".[30] Routh condemned the January 6 Capitol attack as being "perpetrated by Donald Trump and his undemocratic posse."[27] Following his disillusionment with Trump, Routh has since announced his support for various presidential opponents of Trump, including Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Tulsi Gabbard (a member of the Democratic Party at the time), as well as Republican presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley.[25][30] Routh had, additionally, donated $140 to Democratic causes since 2019, and is registered in North Carolina as an independent voter.[25][30] Routh voted in North Carolina's Democratic primary elections in 2024.[27] Routh's writings and interviews with witnesses who knew him suggested that he believed himself to be a major participant in world events. Routh frequently attempted to contact influential figures, such as Kim Jong Un and Elon Musk.[27][24] He also reached out to Iran in his book, saying they should feel free to assassinate Trump for dismantling the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, as well as Routh himself, for his past Trump support.[30][31]
Routh said in a 2022 interview with a Romanian reporter in Kyiv that he flew to Ukraine to join its army in the months after Russia's full-scale invasion but learned that he was "not an ideal candidate" for the battlefield because he was in his mid-50s with no military experience. Later in 2022, Routh said in an interview that after he was rejected for military service, he began recruiting volunteer soldiers for the Ukrainian military.[32] Routh complained of roadblocks to Ukraine admitting foreign fighters, telling the publication Semafor, "Ukraine is very often hard to work with, they're afraid that anybody and everybody is a Russian spy".[33]
Evelyn Aschenbrenner, a former volunteer for the Ukrainian International Legion, called Routh "delusional" and a "liar" over his claims that he recruited for the Ukrainian organization, saying Routh was "not, and never has been, associated with the International Legion or the Ukrainian Armed Forces at all". Aschenbrenner said of Routh "He was combative. He was argumentative. He refused repeatedly to understand basic army policy", adding "There was [sic] delusions of grandeur and [he was] very disconnected from reality". The International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine said in a statement that Routh had "never been part of, associated with, or linked" to it "in any capacity."[34][35][36]
Routh had multiple prior criminal charges, including a 2002 conviction for "possessing a weapon of mass death and destruction" after barricading himself in a building with a fully automatic weapon. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to undergo a mental health evaluation and accept recommended treatments. Throughout his life, Routh had over 100 criminal counts filed against him in North Carolina, which included driving violations and possession of stolen items. Routh typically received parole or probation for his offenses, with no record of time spent in prison.[27][33][31]
Aftermath
After the incident, law enforcement linked the license plates for the Nissan SUV used by Routh to a 2012 Ford truck that was reported as stolen. The witness who initially spotted the fleeing suspect identified Routh after he was taken into custody. Cell phone data of Routh's phone showed that he had arrived at the golf course at 1:59 a.m., where he had waited for roughly 12 hours.[15]
Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation of the incident,[11] with the United States Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office also participating.[9] The FBI is treating the incident as an attempted assassination.[4] Routh's motive is currently unknown,[21] although officials believe that he intended to shoot Trump.[2]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pledged to open a state-level investigation into the shooting.[37]
Reactions
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's opponent in the 2024 presidential election, were briefed on the incident.[18] The White House released a statement saying: "The president and vice president have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe."[21] In a separate statement, Harris said: "I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America."[2]
Shortly after the shooting, Elon Musk, the chairman of Twitter owner X Corp, quote-retweeted a post on the site which asked "Why they want to kill Donald Trump? [sic]", responding that "no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala". Although he initially defended his wording, Musk deleted the tweet following widespread condemnation, claiming the following day that his remarks were intended as a joke. The White House issued a statement calling Musk's comment "irresponsible," writing that "violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about".[38][39]
See also
References
- ^ Devine, Curt; Chapman, Isabelle; et al. (September 16, 2024). "Man detained in apparent assassination attempt on Trump criticized former president on social media". CNN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Holmes, Kristen; Millar, John; Sullivan, Kate; Perez, Evan; Herb, Jeremy (September 15, 2024). "Trump is safe following shooting at Florida golf course; suspect detained". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Richer, Alanna Durkin; Long, Colleen; Tucker, Eric; Miller, Zeke; Matat, Stephany (September 16, 2024). "Trump was the subject of an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf club, the FBI says". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Shen, Michelle; LeBlanc, Paul; D'Antonio, Isabelle; Forrest, Jack; Chowdhury, Maureen (September 15, 2024). "Live updates: FBI investigating apparent assassination attempt of Trump in Florida". CNN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Dawsey, Josh; Leonnig, Carol D. (September 15, 2024). "Trump was golfing at his club when Secret Service agents heard gunshots". The Washington Post.
- ^ McGraw, Meridith; Allison, Natalie (September 15, 2024). "Trump safe after gunshots reported near Florida golf club". Politico. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Herb, Jeremy; Cohen, Zachary; Liptak, Kevin (September 16, 2024). "'The Secret Service needs more help': Trump protection scrutinized after apparent assassination attempt". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Kate (September 16, 2024). "Secret Service Admits Not Searching Golf Course Perimeter, Drawing New Scrutiny". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Trump uninjured after gunfire near his Florida club". The Washington Post. September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ Traylor, Jake; Dienst, Jonathan; Winter, Tom; O'Donnell, Kelly; Atkins, Chloe; Marquez, Alexandra; Lebowitz, Megan (September 15, 2024). "Trump safe after suspect in apparent assassination attempt arrested with AR-style rifle, scope and GoPro". NBC News. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Donald Trump latest: Man in custody and AK-47-style weapon found after 'apparent assassination attempt' on Trump". BBC News. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Buncombe, Andrew (September 17, 2024). "Trump's would-be assassin was found in spot used by paparazzi for years". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Coen, Susie (September 16, 2024). "Suspect in Trump assassination attempt lay in wait for 12 hours". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Spencer, Terry; Matat, Stephany; Tucker, Eric; Richer, Alanna Durkin; Long, Colleen (September 16, 2024). "Suspect in apparent assassination attempt on Trump was near golf course for 12 hours, records show". Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Herb, Jeremy (September 17, 2024). "Inside the fateful 12 hours of an apparent assassination attempt outside the Trump International Golf Club". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Goldman, Adam (September 16, 2024). "Officials Say Suspect Never Had Sight of Trump on Golf Course". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Stepansky, Joseph (September 15, 2024). "FBI probing shooting at Trump's golf course as 'attempted assassination'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Faulders, Katherine; Scott, Rachel; Date, Jack; Sarnoff, Leah (September 15, 2024). "Trump is 'safe' after gunshots near his Florida golf club, campaign says". ABC News. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ Fuhrman, Dillon (September 15, 2024). "Former President Donald Trump reported safe following shooting near his vicinity". Associated Press. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via KYMA-DT.
- ^ Lopez, Viviana (September 15, 2024). "Martin County Sheriff's Office arrests suspect after 'attempted assassination' at Trump golf club". WPBF. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c Mazzei, Patricia; Swan, Jonathan; Haberman, Maggie; Goldman, Adam; Thrush, Glenn (September 15, 2024). "Trump Safe After Shooting Reported at His Golf Course". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ Halpert, Madeline; Peter, Laurence (September 15, 2024). "Trump rushed to safety and suspect held after man spotted with rifle". BBC News. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "LIVE: FBI investigates potential assassination attempt on Trump after shots fired near his Florida golf course". ABC News. September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c Goldman, Adam; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Thrush, Glenn; Rahim, Najim (September 15, 2024). "Suspected Gunman Said He Was Willing to Fight and Die in Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Licon, Adriana (September 15, 2024). "5 things to know about the apparent assassination attempt on Trump at one of his golf courses". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Breen, Kerry; Schecter, Anna (September 17, 2024). "What's known about Ryan Wesley Routh, Trump assassination attempt suspect arrested in Florida". CBS News. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Mazzei, Patricia; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Medina, Eduardo; Thrush, Glenn (September 16, 2024). "Suspect in Apparent Trump Assassination Plot Crusaded for Many Causes". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "Contrary To Online Claims, Trump Suspect Is Registered Independent Voters". Barron's. AFP. September 16, 2024.
- ^ Mikkelsen, Emily; Skipper, Elijah; Melrose, Justyn (September 15, 2024). "Greensboro neighbor describes man accused of attempting Trump assassination, says 'a lot of people were afraid of him'". Fox 8. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d De Guzman, Chad (September 16, 2024). "What We Know—and Don't Know—So Far About the Trump Golf Course Shooter". Time. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Biesecker, Michael; McAvoy, Audrey; Condon, Bernard; Sisak, Michael R. (September 16, 2024). "Man who appeared intent on killing Trump wrote a book urging Iran to assassinate the ex-president". Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Pinho, Faith E.; Nelson, Laura J.; Winton, Richard (September 16, 2024). "Trump assassination attempt suspect said he had hoped to fight in Ukraine". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Romero, Dennis (September 16, 2024). "Man in custody after Trump golf club incident was once convicted of possessing a machine gun". NBC News. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Van Brugen, Isabel (September 16, 2024). "Exclusive: Ryan Wesley Routh "delusional and a liar'—Ukraine volunteer". Newsweek. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Butler, Ann; Wendling, Mike. "Ryan Routh: What we know about Trump assassination attempt suspect". BBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Morrison, Dan; Jervis, Rick; Hjelmgaard, Kim. "Alleged Trump gunman had 'delusions of grandeur' in Ukraine, former recruiter says". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Falconer, Rebecca (September 15, 2024). "Florida investigating apparent assassination attempt on Trump, DeSantis says". Axios. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Dolak, Kevin (September 16, 2024). "White House Responds to Elon Musk Post Wondering Why 'No One is Trying to Assassinate Biden/Kamala'". The Hollywood Reporter. Elisabeth D. Rabishaw & Victoria Gold. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Goldman, David (September 16, 2024). "Elon Musk deletes post questioning the Trump assassination attempt". CNN. Warner Bros. Discovery. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.